Aakrosh - Schrei der Pein

This is one of the greatest movies ever made in the world. Not just in India. The movie direction , the story line , the actors , the music and everything else about this movie is just superb. The story is very powerful and the depth of characters is great. I fall short of any adjectives for this movie. The young lawyer's ( Naseeruddin Shah ) frustrations and attempts to free himself from the legal shackles of the court room and his thirst for something sane outside of this oppressive system is brilliantly portrayed. On the other hand his mentor cum opponent's ( Amrish Puri )total submission to this mindless system and his slavery to seek proof and evidence for everything human is well portrayed. The background score elevates the effect.

In a nut shell any attempt to describe this movie will always fall short of it's greatness. The best way to appreciate this movie is to watch it and you are sure to be struck dumb. I don't have any means to give infinite stars for this movie otherwise I would have done so. Unfortunately for this movie, it was made in the wrong time and place and it's predominantly leftist leanings gave it away. Furthermore it was mainly anti-establishment. It did not have the backing of a powerful media and advertisement paraphernalia. Hence this movie was a box office flop. Interestingly , though this movie was the forerunner to a number of box office hits attacking the political system in India.

Now, that summary above would seem like a hyperbole, but in the case of Aakrosh, it isn't. Simply telling the story of an untouchable family whose sole breadwinner gets entangled into a legal case after his wife is murdered and the police say he has done it.

What follows is a series of depiction of human nature on how evil meets good & tries to suppress the truth. With a climax so scintillating and adverse, the whole film revolves around how Naseeruddin Shah tries to save Om Puri's back from the gallows. Both are equally phenomenal diving into their characters just like Amrish Puri is strict in his air. What a terrific way of conveying a message with a screenplay so fine, dialogs so sharp & writing so bold, Aakrosh is definitely Indian cinema's pride. Smitha Patil, Reema Lagoo & others have a short roles, but marvelous portrayals.

BOTTOM LINE: Recommended to people who care for Indian cinema. Maybe the best film of 1980.

Can be watched with a typical Indian family? NO

Sex/Foreplay: Mild <> Violence/Gore: Strong <> Drugs/Alcohol: Very Mild <> Smoking: Strong <> Nudity: No <> Porn/Mouth-Kiss: No

Aakrosh is perhaps the only movie after Sholey in which everything just is perfect. All actors are completely immersed in their roles. Unfortunately, in bollywood such movies don't get recognized and are often forgotten quickly. Although, Aakrosh managed to get 6 awards in film fare but that was it. TO my understanding Aakrosh is brilliantly directed movie. Naseeruddin's acting was in particular very impressive, but I do not discount other minor/major actors-they were are all perfect. Watch a distrust in the law at a tribal's face (Om Puri), watch a frustration of young idealist lawyer (Naseer), watch a confidence on seasoned lawyer (Ambrish Puri), watch a pain on destitute father and a sister. The movie ends in a very realistic manner and with a great message: in the land of law the truth is only what can be supported by evidence--rest are all lies or just words. Aakrosh has a only three songs and see the real street corner nautanki dance (Tu Aisa Mard...)--brilliantly done. A must watch movie and a text book for those who are learning to act or direct.

This is one of the best movies ever made in India. It is unfortunate that the world associates films in India exclusively with bollywood (atleast post-Ray), and so, films like Aakrosh do not get their due. The film pits the idealism of a young lawyer, Bhaskar (Naseer), who is the public defendent for a tribal man, Lahanya (Om Puri), against the inhumanity of the very milieu he has grown up in and is a part of, and which exploits tribals off their labor, life, and dignity with abandon. Especially poignant is Bhaskar's relationship with his mentor (Amrish Puri) who is the public prosecutor in this case. The two share an extremely cordial relationship in personal life but are gulfs apart when it comes to their work and professional ideals.

But probably most important point of the movie is what social theorist Gayatri Spivak asked some years later (in the context of women though)-- 'can the subaltern speak?'. Aakrosh is a forceful reminder that in our capitalist and bureaucratic postcolonial set-up, they indeed cannot.

Nearly all performances in the film are brilliant. Naseer, as the idealist lawyer is completely immersed in his character, to the degree that one forgets that it is Naseer you see on the screen, so good is he as Bhaskar. Something, however, that cannot be said about any of the mainstream 'heroes' in Bollywood. The film, I think, is worth watching for Naseer's method acting alone. Om Puri is remarkable as a tribal man framed in the murder of his wife (Smita Patil in a brief appearance), who, as we discover in some painful shots, loves her a lot. The agony on his face is haunting. And Amreesh Puri is extremely effective as the public prosecutor. The best scenes for me, personally, were Naseer's incessant, and ineffective, pleas to Om Puri to speak up and his cross examination of the witnesses and monologues in court. If anyone needs a great exposition of method acting, then the song 'sans mein dard' is the place to start. Following Naseer's movements in it are extremely educative.

As they say that the emotions cannot be completely described in words so is this movie, which is a string of well directed and engrossly acted cinematic shots, describing the atrocities poor and weak faced/s in an illiterate feudalistic society such as ours.

Govind Nihalani and Vijay Tendulkar sirs..hats off to both of you!! Not just for marvelous direction but also for courage that you had shown for writing and showcasing the truth.

Om Puri...what an actor he was. One of the few well deserved filmfare award for a supporting role, ever. He didn't need to say even a word throughout the movie and still his dilemma and pain reaches the viewer effectively.

Naseer sir looks his part and very graciously played his role in the movie, which I otherwise will like to remember for its realistic depiction of rural India and perfect exposure of various characters.

Heartbroken but cherished every moment of Govind sir's filmmaking.

Must watch for truth seekers..not for idiots.